What U.S. trans activists can learn from Bolivia Zein Murib - January 16, 2024 Changing laws and attitudes can require interim trade-offs – and close links with a political party.
How New Zealand and 5 other nations gained majority-female legislatures Jennifer Piscopo - November 3, 2022 New Zealand’s Parliament now has more women than men. The Labour Party’s commitment to gender parity helped to make that happen.
In El Salvador and elsewhere, leaders find ways to break term limits Joseph Wright, Erica Frantz, and Andrea Kendall-Taylor - October 3, 2022 When leaders bend the rules to stay in power, it’s a red flag for democracy
Colombia’s new president aims to swing his country left. It won’t be easy. Sandra Botero, Laura Gamboa, and Juan Albarracín - June 29, 2022 Gustavo Petro will have to make alliances and deals with moderate parties, which may disappoint his supporters
How do North and South Americans view the U.S.? Dinorah Azpuru - June 2, 2022 Leaders are gathering for the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles
Worried about the state of democracy? Here are some reasons to be optimistic instead. Miguel Angel Lara Otaola - March 2, 2022 These factors help countries return to democracy after an authoritarian spell, our research finds
Millennial politicians are shaking up Latin America. Here’s how they differ from the old guard. Will Freeman and Paul J. Angelo - January 11, 2022 Generational turnover is getting rid of ‘los mismos de siempre’ and making politics more unpredictable.
Chile elected delegates to draft a new constitution — and it’s not tilted toward the elites Julieta Suarez-Cao and Javier Sajuria - June 24, 2021 Chilean political parties suffered a big blow: 40 percent of the votes went to independent candidates. Here’s what that means.
How can the world hold Belarus accountable? Alexander Cooley - May 25, 2021 Technology has become the ‘long arm’ of authoritarians
When Belarus forced down a plane, it may have committed state-sponsored hijacking Yuval Weber - May 23, 2021 International treaties outlaw false communications that might endanger a flight
Colombia’s protesters want human rights reforms. The country’s human rights agency may not be much help. Erika Moreno - May 18, 2021 Elected officials appoint its leadership and fund the budget, leaving this agency with limited power
Peru’s upcoming presidential election is really a referendum on its troubled constitution Paolo Sosa-Villagarcia and Maxwell A. Cameron - May 13, 2021 What’s at stake in the runoff between leftist front-runner Pedro Castillo and right-wing, dynastic candidate Keiko Fujimori?
Something’s happening in Armenia. But is it a coup? Adam E. Casey - March 2, 2021 In fact, coups are rare in post-Soviet countries
These were our 10 most popular posts of 2020 E.J. Graff - December 31, 2020 Readers were very interested in elections, successions, and a virus we hadn’t heard of just a year ago.
Biden promises to embrace multilateralism again. World leaders agree. Erik Voeten and Alexander Kentikelenis - December 15, 2020 Our research suggests the liberal order has staying power
Colombia’s lawmakers are debating how to regulate cocaine. Here’s what we know about decriminalization. Elena Barham - October 18, 2020 Peru and Bolivia have already legalized parts of the coca trade.
Another unity government won’t solve Lebanon’s crisis Christiana Parreira - August 20, 2020 Research shows ideologically opposed parties rarely share power well
Two years after Nicaragua’s mass uprising started, why is Daniel Ortega still in power? Mateo Jarquín and Kai M. Thaler - April 30, 2020 These three things explain why a mass nonviolent uprising didn’t manage to oust the authoritarian ruler.
The pandemic challenges democracies — but really hurts dictators Michael Albertus - April 30, 2020 Here’s how the economic fallout may fray domestic political alliances
Will Trump’s name on stimulus checks help win him votes in November? Virginia Oliveros, Rebecca Weitz-Shapiro, and Matthew Winters - April 28, 2020 What we know about the consequences of name-stamping public policy
Yes, Bolivia’s 2019 election was problematic. Here’s why. Irfan Nooruddin - March 8, 2020 The last 5 percent of the vote count, which favored Morales substantially, is very different from the trendline for the other 95 percent of the count.
Bolivia dismissed its October elections as fraudulent. Our research found no reason to suspect fraud. John Curiel and Jack R. Williams - February 24, 2020 Bolivians will hold a new election in May — without ousted president Evo Morales
Putin would recognize Trump’s ‘reality TV’ techniques in the State of the Union address Hannah Chapman - February 11, 2020 That kind of showmanship really does boost public opinion ratings
Latin American democracy may be in trouble. The protests are a symptom of increasing mistrust. Dinorah Azpuru - December 8, 2019 Citizens are unhappy both with their own representatives and with democracy in general.
Colombia is having its largest wave of protests in recent decades. Why? Silvia Otero Bahamón and Sandra Botero - December 4, 2019 Here are the 3 things you need to know
Don’t want to discuss Trump or impeachment at Thanksgiving? Try this instead. Vanessa Lide and E.J. Graff - November 26, 2019 Dazzle (or distract) the table with what else has been happening while they weren’t looking.
Uruguay’s Sunday runoff election may bring down the ruling party Jennifer Pribble and Fernando Rosenblatt - November 19, 2019 Voters have generally been content — so why are they pushing for change?
The real story behind the Bolivia protests isn’t the one you’re hearing. V. Ximena Velasco-Guachalla, Raymond Foxworth, Jami Nelson Nuñez, Calla Hummel, and Carew Boulding - November 19, 2019 Here are three key oversimplifications — and why they’re wrong
This may be the largest wave of nonviolent mass movements in world history. What comes next? Zoe Marks, Tore Wig, Sirianne Dahlum, Sooyeon Kang, Erica Chenoweth, and Christopher Wiley Shay - November 14, 2019 Social media has made mass protests easier to organize — but, perhaps paradoxically, harder to resolve.
Bolivian protesters unseated a president. So why are they still in the streets? Natasha Bennett - November 14, 2019 Evo Morales is out – and it’s not clear what will happen to the institutions he created.
After weeks of Latin American protests, expect to see more women elected to office Magda Hinojosa, Kendall D. Funk, and Jennifer Piscopo - November 6, 2019 Parties nominate more women when citizens distrust government — because so many people believe women are more honest
Few Chileans have a voice in government. That’s why so many are in the streets. Javier Sajuria - November 5, 2019 A small, wealthy class runs both major political parties — and the government.
Chile’s streets are filled with protests. How did a 4 percent fare hike set off such rage? Alisha Holland - October 31, 2019 The metro symbolizes the vast distances — geographically and economically — between rich and poor.
Is Bolivia’s democracy in danger? Here’s what’s behind the disputed presidential election. Santiago Anria and Jennifer Cyr - October 30, 2019 Yes, Evo Morales is ignoring some constitutional limits. But he has also brought previously excluded groups into power.
We checked 100 years of protests in 150 countries. Here’s what we learned about the working class and democracy. Tore Wig, Sirianne Dahlum, and Carl Knutsen - October 24, 2019 The success of mass protests depends on who is doing the protesting.
Here’s how democracy is eroding in Mongolia Boldsaikhan Sambuu and Aubrey Menard - April 2, 2019 Say goodbye to independent judges and corruption investigations.
Here are the 3 big shifts in Venezuela that you probably missed — and will change what comes next. Jana Morgan - January 25, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83074" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Protesters demanding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's
Democracy is in crisis in Latin America. Brazil may be the next trouble spot. Scott Mainwaring and Luis Schenoni - October 22, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man yells after listening to
Will Sunday’s elections bring economic relief and reform to Venezuela? - May 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73507" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Venezuelan citizens cross the Simon Bolivar
Trump might be hurting U.S. businesses by leaving so many ambassador posts empty Geoffrey Gertz - May 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73126" align="aligncenter" width="960"] German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, and
Did Trump try to lose today’s United Nations vote on Israel? Erik Voeten - December 21, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67538" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the
Hondurans are in the streets because they don’t believe their election results Orlando Pérez and Mitchell Seligson - December 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67416" align="alignleft" width="960"] A masked protester stands by a
Why bitcoin’s success could be its downfall Benjamin Graham and Allison Kingsley - December 11, 2017 Digital currencies have been front-page news as the value of
Evo Morales wants to change the law so he can remain president. Is Bolivia’s democracy in danger? Santiago Anria - November 28, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66628" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Bolivian President Evo Morales in February 2016.
It’s not just Venezuela. Elected governments don’t necessarily defend democracy or protect human rights. Jimena Galindo and Christopher Sabatini - August 11, 2017 On Aug. 8, 12 countries in Latin America raised their
Venezuela’s government wants to write a new constitution. That way lies autocracy. Javier Corrales - May 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58250" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Demonstrators who oppose the Venezuelan government
In Ecuador’s extremely tight election, the left defied the odds Fabiana Perera - April 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56368" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President-elect Lenín Moreno greets supporters near
Putin is waiting to see whether Trump will fund pro-democracy programs Timothy Gill - March 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55557" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Traditional Russian wooden dolls depicting President
Courts can be undermined in these 3 ways. This is how to protect them. Tom Clark and Jeffrey Staton - February 27, 2017 [caption id="attachment_49518" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The U.S. Supreme Court. (Win McNamee/Getty
Ecuador votes on Sunday. These are 5 things you need to know. John Polga-Hecimovich - February 17, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54290" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A poster with an image of
Trump’s war on the news media is serious. Just look at Latin America. Marisa Kellam and Elizabeth Stein - February 16, 2017 President Donald Trump continues to wage his self-proclaimed “running war
The electoral college is a medieval relic. Only the U.S. still has one. Josep Colomer - December 11, 2016 The U.S. electoral college is a medieval relic. For several
Oil wars: Why nations aren’t battling over resources Emily Meierding - May 19, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40759" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A U.S. soldier stands guard next to a
6 things you need to know about Venezuela’s political and economic crisis Michael McCarthy - May 18, 2016 Venezuela is a powder keg. Once a rich country held
Why is Africa so poor while Europe and North America are so wealthy? Andrew Gelman - April 24, 2016 A few years ago, two economics professors, Quamrul Ashraf and
Here’s why some people think Brazil is in the middle of a ‘soft coup’ Héctor Perla - April 16, 2016 Brazil’s elected government is in the news, but is it
Putin can’t last forever. Will a post-Putin Russia look like Syria today? Maria Snegovaya - March 16, 2016 Russian politicians often suggest that a post-Putin future would look
It’s not just Trump. Authoritarian populism is rising across the West. Here’s why. Pippa Norris - March 11, 2016 Many American commentators have had trouble understanding the rise of
Here’s how falling oil prices could make the world more peaceful and cooperative Erik Voeten - January 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_20002" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Oil pumps work at sunset in
Bolivian elections get the Hollywood treatment, and now we’re discussing term limits da Silva and Von Vacano - December 23, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLZo_ILZhfk Bolivian politics are not usually the stuff of
Investors have controversial new rights to sue countries. Here’s why this matters for the U.S. Rachel Wellhausen - November 30, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32783" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Protesters stand in the street to
Portugal faces a political crisis, but it’s the same one facing governments everywhere Cas Mudde - October 28, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31385" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Paulo Portas (C), leader of the
Putin wins at hockey! Mao swims the Yangtze! And other amazing feats of authoritarian prowess Xavier Marquez - October 14, 2015 https://youtu.be/TUdYCzdpzdY Russian President Vladimir Putin recently celebrated his 63rd birthday
Think of Russia as an ordinary petrostate, not an extraordinary superpower Maria Snegovaya - March 9, 2015 [caption id="attachment_22451" align="alignnone" width="620"] A monitoring instrument on the gas
Bringing the FARC in from the cold Fernando Medina - February 13, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21012" align="alignnone" width="620"] Gen. Ruben Alzate, right, meets with
Those with darker skin report slower police response throughout the Americas Mitchell Seligson, Mollie Cohen, and Elizabeth Zechmeister - February 9, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21073" align="alignnone" width="620"] Riot police and security officers clash
The rise of outsider politicians in Latin America and Europe Esperanza Casullo and Flavia Freidenberg - September 16, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15496" align="alignnone" width="620"] Marine Le Pen leads the far-right
What The Economist could have read before suggesting that U.S. slavery wasn’t all bad Chris Blattman - September 5, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15315" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A sugar plantation on the island
The rich are running Latin America – and why that matters Noam Lupu and Nicholas Carnes - April 8, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli -
If Ukraine expropriates Russian firms, other multinationals probably won’t care Rachel Wellhausen - March 27, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A member of a Ukrainian
The U.S. is still lonely at the United Nations Erik Voeten - September 25, 2013 When President Obama first addressed the U.N. General Assembly in 2009, he
Butch Cassidy and the Snowden Kid: Evo Morales’s Plane and the Latin American Left Joshua Tucker - July 6, 2013 We welcome back Texas A&M political scientist Diego von Vacano with the following
Do Academics own the Titles of Their Articles? And What if it Involves a Really Good Pun? Joshua Tucker - March 15, 2013 Some of you who know me or my work will
Party Nationalization after the 2013 Ecuadorian Legislative and Presidential Election Joshua Tucker - March 14, 2013 Continuing our series of election reports in conjunction with Electoral Studies, the following
Hugo Chavez, the U.S., and Latin America in the United Nations Erik Voeten - March 6, 2013 Hugo Chavez was, to put it mildly, no fan of
Hugo Chávez and the Death of Populism Erik Voeten - March 6, 2013 The following guest post is by Diego von Vacano, a
The House that Chavez Built Joshua Tucker - March 6, 2013 The following is a guest post from political scientist Jennifer Cyr of the
That controversial claim that high genetic diversity, or low genetic diversity, is bad for the economy Andrew Gelman - January 10, 2013 Kyle Peyton writes: I'm passing you this recent news article
What do legislatures in authoritarian regimes do? Joshua Tucker - December 14, 2012 No, this post is not going to feature another picture
Election Reports and Political Science: Update Joshua Tucker - October 20, 2009 A little more than a month ago I announced a
Some Data on Latin American Coups John Sides - July 1, 2009 In earlier post, I passed along this query from a
The Best Countries for Business - April 22, 2009 Forbes magazine has just released its ranking of the “best